Panthers fans excited by playoff game, vow loyalty

Carolina Panthers fans at Half Time Pub & Grub in New Bern were excited when the team scored its first touchdown Sunday. From the left are the Sard family of New Bern — 15-year-old Dylan and his parents, Matt and Renee. The Panthers lost to the San Francisco 49ers, 23-10.

Charlie Hall/Sun Journal

By Charlie Hall, Sun Journal Staff

Published: Sunday, January 12, 2014 at 05:11 PM.

The toughest thing about being a sports fan is staying true to your team when they lose.

Carolina Panthers fans who gathered Sunday at Half Time Pub & Grub in New Bern to watch the Panthers’ playoff game with San Francisco were excited before and early into the game.

It was the Panthers’ first trip to the NFL playoffs in several years, and they have been an NFL surprise this year. Most of the fans vowed their loyalty, having endured losing seasons.

Continued fan support will be needed after a 23-10 loss Sunday to San Francisco.

“I’ve been a fan since they started,” said Matt Sard of New Bern, who brought his fan-family — wife, Renee, and son, Dylan. “I watch them every chance I get. It’s a tradition.”

Warren Petersen is from Florida and staying in New Bern for his job, building some barracks at Cherry Point air station.

“I’m a Panthers fan, now,” he said. “I like what they have done this season. They have showed some guts and I will back a team like that.”

The toughest thing about being a sports fan is staying true to your team when they lose.

Carolina Panthers fans who gathered Sunday at Half Time Pub & Grub in New Bern to watch the Panthers’ playoff game with San Francisco were excited before and early into the game.

It was the Panthers’ first trip to the NFL playoffs in several years, and they have been an NFL surprise this year. Most of the fans vowed their loyalty, having endured losing seasons.

Continued fan support will be needed after a 23-10 loss Sunday to San Francisco.

“I’ve been a fan since they started,” said Matt Sard of New Bern, who brought his fan-family — wife, Renee, and son, Dylan. “I watch them every chance I get. It’s a tradition.”

Warren Petersen is from Florida and staying in New Bern for his job, building some barracks at Cherry Point air station.

“I’m a Panthers fan, now,” he said. “I like what they have done this season. They have showed some guts and I will back a team like that.”

However, Petersen’s true allegiance is with the Green Bay Packers, who had lost to San Francisco in last week’s Wild Card playoff round.

Petersen said he liked the Panthers and New Bern, finding Half Time is a good place to watch football games.

“I heard about this place in September and I didn’t know the people,” he said. “But, there are no strangers here.”

Neil Lotridge of New Bern wore a No. 1 jersey Cam Newton jersey, the most popular Panthers’ gear worn by many patrons. He bought the jersey when Newton was drafted three years ago.

Lotridge is 23, and the Panthers have been his only NFL team. He is moving to the nation’s capital later this month, but doesn’t plan to change his allegiance to the Washington Redskins.

Half Time owner Casey Aylward, a “die-hard” Panthers supporter, said when big games are on TV, the take-out business for the restaurant’s 17 flavors of chicken wings goes up.

Jamie Franklin of New Bern had large bag of wings under his arm as he and his wife, Stacy, and 3-week-old Landon headed to a relative’s house to watch the game.

“I’ve got to pull for the home team,” he said.

One couple admitted they are not true Panthers’ fans, but they came to Half Time to root for the Charlotte-based team because of friends.

Tim and Danielle Shattuck also were celebrating some events more important than a football game: They were married in October, her birthday was Sunday and they recently found out there is a baby on the way.

The baby will face a mixed-bag decision on NFL teams. Mom is from New York and a Giants fan and dad favors his hometown Oakland Raiders.